By 274-137, the House "approved an extra three months of jobless benefits for all unemployed Americans, knowing the plan's chances are slight in the Senate and almost nonexistent at the White House," The Associated Press reports.

"The White House already has threatened to veto the bill, and Senate Democrats have said they won't try and force their Republican colleagues to consider the House legislation," the article said. "The White House and Republicans said a bill targeting unemployment benefits only to states that have high unemployment would be more palatable to them."

"The Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week increased by 25,000 from the week before," the article explains. "The unemployment rate in May jumped to 5.5 percent, up from 5 percent in April. It was the biggest one-month gain in 22 years."The Register-Herald of Beckley has an article focusing on Rahall's vote.

This blog draws its name from the statue that stands at the south steps of the state Capitol. Inspired by the poem of Vachel Lindsay, it honors the 16th president for his role in West Virginia's statehood. Photo courtesy of Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.

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I cover the Statehouse for The Associated Press. This is a personal blog. It's not AP-endorsed or otherwise part of the world's oldest and largest news gathering organization.
Any views expressed here are neither mine nor that of AP.
E-mail: lmessina AT gmail DOT com